MEDN40110 Primary Care Mental Health I

Academic Year 2023/2024

Students will acquire:
• A thorough knowledge and understanding of medical science relevant to primary mental healthcare.
• An understanding of the limits of their professional roles, responsibilities, competence, and the need to seek advice/refer when appropriate when treating mental health disorders.

Students will learn to apply their knowledge and understanding of primary mental healthcare to patient-centred care and the treatment of mental health disorders.

Demonstrate a critical engagement with decision-making frameworks and processes in primary care contexts. Students will improve their clinical assessment capabilities, clinical problem-solving capabilities and clinical decision making, especially in regard to risk assessment.

Students will engage in effective intra and inter professional working with healthcare colleagues.
Emphasis will also be placed on communication skills reinforcing the primary goal of the School to produce competent, caring practitioners with an ability to convey complex messages to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Throughout the course, students will engage in group and autonomous learning exercises, designed to reinforce an evidence-based approach to primary mental healthcare.

Graduate attributes and outcomes

• Theoretical perspectives on mental illness
• Diagnosis and assessment of mental illness
• Understanding of psychiatric disorders and treatment
• Understanding of psychotherapy as treatment intervention
• Understanding of approaches to management and care of mental illness
• Enhanced critical thinking, analysis and problem solving
• Understanding of legal and ethical issues involving mental illness
• Ability to review his / her own practice and improve patient care through clinical audit and quality improvement initiatives.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the module, a student should be able to:

• Outline the incidence/prevalence of common mental health conditions in primary care;
• Competently assess patients with mental health issues;
• Provide the appropriate management of patients with mental health issues;
• Recognise symptoms and signs of serious mental health state (i.e. 'red flags') and appreciate how to respond in practice;
• For any given mental health presentation know when / how to investigate / refer / admit;
• Competently assess and treat patients with mental health issues in special circumstances, e.g. Substance misuse, Children and adolescents, the elderly
• Critically reflect on his / her practice;
• Understand the importance of maintaining self-care regarding anxiety and stress for the practitioner.

Indicative Module Content:

-MH in General Practice (Epidemiology)
-Affective disorders
-Risk Assessment
-Overview of Mental Health Services
-Stress, Anxiety and Self-care
-Neuroses – e.g. OCD, PTSD, social phobia, health anxiety
-Therapies
-Mental Health and physical illness
-Psychology Services
-Child and Adolescent Mental Healthcare
-Eating disorder in adults
-Substance Misuse

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

16
Seminar (or Webinar)

14
Practical

70
Autonomous Student Learning

30
Online Learning

70
Total

200
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Module delivery will involve:
• Self directed learning delivered weekly throughout the trimester ( 14 weeks)
• Webinars delivered at 19h00 alternate Wednesdays through the trimester
• Seminars / workshops, delivered Fridays at UCD (or virtually) on 2 occasions per semester

The series of seminars / webinars on core topics will guide students in core knowledge acquisition. Where possible, students will be encouraged to use their previous experience (practical, clinical) in learning to acquire knowledge through self-direction. Enquiry-based methods will be used to encourage critical thinking, analysis and problem solving. Case-based scenarios will encourage the integration of knowledge across modules that consider mental health issues of relevance for both practitioner and patient care.
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Applicants should:
• Hold an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject (e.g. Medicine, Nursing & Midwifery, Emergency Medical Sciences)
• Possess an equivalent professional qualification, or
• Have relevant clinical experience in mental health or primary care


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Participation in webinars, Balint Group, online quizzes etc Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

50
Portfolio: Case reports and practical skills Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

50

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Grades from online assessments will be available online. Peer feedback relating to Group projects will be given on the same day. Portfolio's will be given regular feedback in person/audio/video or written formats at regular intervals.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Anne Doherty Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Blánaid Gavin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Susan Moore Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Barry O'Donnell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Anna Beug Tutor
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 

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